Global tourism rises 2pc as demand shifts across destinations
Around 307 million people
travelled internationally between January and March, an increase of roughly six
million compared to the same period last year. However, growth is expected to
remain moderate as the Middle East conflict, higher fuel prices, and rising
travel costs weigh on global demand.
Despite these challenges,
several destinations recorded strong gains as travel patterns shift. Paraguay
led global growth with a 46 percent increase in arrivals, followed by New
Caledonia (+45 percent), El Salvador (+43 percent), Mongolia (+39 percent),
Palau (+37 percent), and Uzbekistan (+37 percent). Other notable performers
included Pakistan, the Republic of Korea, Morocco, Brunei, and Brazil, all
posting double-digit growth.
Experts said, part of
this trend reflects a redirection of tourist flows toward destinations
perceived as more stable or offering better value for money. At the same time,
travelers are increasingly choosing closer-to-home trips and shorter-haul
destinations due to higher transport and accommodation costs.
Europe remained the
world’s largest tourism region, welcoming over 130 million visitors in the
first quarter, up 4 percent year-on-year. Southern, Northern, and
Central-Eastern Europe all posted gains, supported by continued recovery in
international travel demand.
In contrast, the Middle
East saw a sharp 14 percent decline in arrivals due to regional conflict,
although Egypt recorded strong growth of 16 percent, benefiting from diverted
travel flows.
UN Tourism experts warn
that while the sector remains strong, rising costs and geopolitical uncertainty
could reduce overall growth by 1–2 percentage points in 2026 compared to
earlier forecasts. Even so, tourism continues to demonstrate resilience, with
shifting demand creating new opportunities for emerging destinations worldwide.
